In 2026, Lancashire Police detectives issued a major public appeal marking the 30th anniversary of the brutal murder of 20-year-old Janet Murgatroyd, renewing an independent £20,000 reward for information that leads to the conviction of her killer.
Janet, a university student who worked part-time at Lancashire Police headquarters in Hutton, had spent Saturday 15 June 1996 in Preston celebrating with a close friend after purchasing tickets for a holiday abroad. After visiting city centre venues including The Adelphi pub and leaving towards Church Street, Janet was unable to secure a taxi and began walking unaccompanied towards her home in Penwortham.
CCTV captured Janet walking along Fishergate and down Fishergate Hill towards the River Ribble. In the early hours of Sunday 16 June 1996, witnesses placed her on Penwortham Bridge. Shortly afterwards, two individuals walking home reported hearing a female wail and observed a man crouched down near the riverbank beside the Holme Road car park. Later that day, Janet’s body was recovered from the River Ribble.
A man previously convicted of manslaughter in 2003 had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2004 and forms no part of current inquiries.
Janet’s mother, Mary, issued a heartfelt plea for the public to break three decades of silence:
“Janet Murgatroyd, my only child, was brutally murdered 30 years ago. The perpetrator is still at large; someone knows who this man is. Janet was on her way home after a day celebrating with her pal, having bought tickets for a holiday abroad. She couldn’t get a taxi, so she started to walk home to Penwortham. I need closure, this continues to affect me and my siblings. The killer needs putting away.”
Detective Chief Inspector Bryony Midgley of Lancashire Police’s Major Crime Review Team stated:
“Janet was a young woman who loved life and was loved by so many people. She had so much going for her and that was taken away when she was attacked and killed as she walked home. Janet should have been able to get home safely that night, she was entitled to feel safe as she made her way home from Preston to Penwortham. Someone saw her on that journey home and for whatever reason attacked Janet and murdered her. It is horrifying to think of what she experienced. It is 30 years since Janet was killed but we remain determined to get justice for Janet and her family. DNA technology and scientific approaches have significantly improved over the last 30 years, so I hope we will be able to take advantage of this as part of our investigation. We continue to appeal for information. It might be that you saw something that night or have information which you didn’t contact police about in 1996 or in the years since. It might be that relationships and loyalties have changed since then, and you are now able to speak to us.”
Independent charity Crimestoppers is offering an enhanced reward of up to £20,000 for information submitted exclusively to the charity that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Janet’s murder.
Detectives are urging anyone who was in the vicinity of Fishergate Hill, Penwortham Bridge, or Holme Road late on 15 June into early 16 June 1996 to make contact.
Information can be reported to Lancashire Police via the Major Incident Public Portal or by calling 101.
To remain 100% anonymous and qualify for the £20,000 reward, disclosures must be made directly to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.
Image – Victim Appeal Photograph
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